Customer Reviews

Flying V: The Illustrated History of this Modernistic Guitar

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Full disclosure here: I know the author Larry Meiners, and contributed to the book, but I have no financial interest in it.

If you are a guitar player or collector, especially one who enjoys rock and blues music, the Gibson Flying V is a fascinating instrument with a distinctive sound and an unusually rich history.
This book provides a detailed and rich history of this instrument from its conception and development through its introduction, near failure, and revitalization. It is still in production today, and the original Vs are one of the most highly sought after vintage guitars in the world.
This book lays out a well-researched and documented history of this instrument and widely varied notable players who have recorded with it and played it live.
I own over 100 books about guitars, and this one really does a credible job of telling its unique and historically significant history. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do.

What a great book. All the information you will ever need to know about the Gibson Flying V including the history, details of the changes Gibson made to the V throughout the years, detailed pictures, and shipping records that show how rare some of these guitars are. This book is loaded with great pictures of Flying V's and Flying V players. If you've ever played a V, or thought about buying a V, check this book out - you can't go wrong.

............STILL IN PRINT and available for 15 to 20 dollars from vendors on eBay! Don't pay the above ridiculous price for it!!

Gibson's Flying V guitar was produced in numbers below 100 in the late 1950's. It's korina wood body, modernistic body style and unconventional looks should have been a hit in the late 1950's with the space race. Unfortunately Gibson was wrong and the Flying V flopped with only 98 being produced in comparison with over 1600 Les Paul Standards for approximately the same time frame. Flying V users were also few and far between with only Albert King and Lonnie Mack playing the Flying V until Gibson began producing the model again in the mid 1960's. By then such incredible guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Billy Gibbons, Michael and Rudolf Schanker and Lenny Kravitz brought the Flying V back into the limelight. A great book on an ever greater guitar! Now if they would only write a book on the Gibson Explorer!!!!!

Great book, very informative. A bit of history, interesting interviews, excellent pictures, and a the foreward by Billy Gibbons! This book is a must have for any guitar collector, musician, or guitar nut.